ACR FLC RECEIVED AN ATCT LCL CTLR REQUEST FOR REPOSITION ON ANOTHER RWY. DURING A 180 DEG TURNING MANEUVER; THE MD80 NOSEWHEEL LEFT THE PREPARED SURFACE AND BECAME STUCK IN SOFT DIRT. RWY EXCURSION.

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IN POS AND HOLD ON RWY 1L AT SFO; TWR ASKED IF WE COULD REPOSITION FOR TKOF ON RWY 1R VIA TXWY M. WE WERE INFORMED BY THE TWR THAT THIS WOULD EXPEDITE OUR DEP. WHILE ATTEMPTING A MINIMUM RADIUS 180 DEG TURN TO GET TO TXWY M; THE NOSEWHEEL DEPARTED FROM THE PREPARED SURFACE AND BECAME BURIED UP TO THE AXLE IN THE SOFT DRY DIRT. AFTER CONSULTING WITH MAINT AND ARPT OPS PERSONNEL THE DECISION WAS MADE TO DEPLANE THE ACFT VIA THE AFT AIRSTAIRS AND BUS THE PAX AND CREW BACK TO THE TERMINAL. IN MY OPINION A NUMBER OF ISSUES COMBINED TO RESULT IN THIS INCIDENT. THE LIGHTING AT THE DEP END OF RWY 1L IS TERRIBLE FOR ATTEMPTING THIS MANEUVER. THE PAVEMENT NARROWS ON THE SECTION WE WERE LINED UP ON AND THERE ARE NO LIGHTS IDENTING THE RWY EDGE. WE WERE RUNNING A BIT LATE AND THE PROMISE OF A SHORTER DELAY ENTICED ME TO MAKE A DECISION THAT; IN HINDSIGHT; WAS NOT PROPER. THE OLD NAVY LINE OF 'CAN DO; CAN DO YOU IN' APPLIES. THE ACFT WAS UNDAMAGED BY THE EVENT AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 321845: TWR ASKED IF WE COULD TRANSITION TO RWY 1R. IT LOOKED TOO CLOSE FOR ME (FO) TO CALL; SO I ASKED THE CAPT WHAT HE THOUGHT. IT WAS OBVIOUSLY A TIGHT SQUEEZE IN HIS MIND; TOO; BECAUSE HE TOOK A FEW SECONDS BEFORE ANSWERING. THE CAPT SAID HE THOUGH WE COULD DO IT. I RESPONDED TO TWR; 'YES; WE CAN TRANSITION TO RWY 1R.' DURING THE ATTEMPT AT THE R 180 DEGS ON RWY 1R; OUR NOSE WENT ABOUT 3 FT OFF THE EDGE OF THE RWY. IN HINDSIGHT I DON'T THINK THERE WERE ANY PROCEDURAL ERRORS ON THE PART OF THE TWR OR THE FLT DECK. WE KNEW IT WAS A TIGHT SQUEEZE AND MISJUDGED IT BY 3 FT. THE NEXT TIME I HOPE WE REMEMBER TO DISPLACE THE ACFT TO ONE SIDE BEFORE ATTEMPTING A TIGHT 180 DEG TURN.